St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church on LinkedIn: Elder Paisios and St. Euphemia “Father Paisios was going through a… (2024)

* WHEN DOES THE CHRISTMAS SEASON END?Is it December 26? January 6? February 2?In secular culture the Christmas season begins around Halloween and ends on December 26. However, in the Roman Catholic Church, the liturgical season of Christmas only begins on December 25 and lasts much longer!The Christmas season lasts even longer than the "12 Days of Christmas," which ends on January 6.The USCCB explains, "The liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. During this season, we celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and into our hearts, and reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him… including the fact that he was born to die for us."When is the feast of the Baptism of the Lord?For those dioceses in the Roman Rite that celebrate Epiphany (Three Kings' Day) always on January 6 and don't move the feast to a Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord falls on the Sunday after Epiphany.In other places where Epiphany is celebrated on the first Sunday that falls from January 2 through January 8, then the Baptism of the Lord could occur either on the following Sunday, or on a Monday (this happens if Epiphany is celebrated on January 7 or 8).The latest that the Baptism of the Lord can occur is January 13. The season of Ordinary Time starts on the day after this feast.This means that typically, the Christmas season runs roughly from December 25 – January 13.For many Eastern Catholics (as well as Orthodox Christians), the birth of Jesus is celebrated on January 6 (or sometimes on January 7).But there's a date from historical tradition too...At the same time, the historical Christmas cycle extends even past the Baptism of the Lord. Traditionally the feast of Candlemas (the Presentation of the Lord) occurs on February 2 and marked the final conclusion of the "Christmas cycle."Candlemas celebrates the event that occurred 40 days after Jesus' birth and was his first introduction to the Temple. In other words, it is the final "baby Jesus" feast day on the Church's liturgical calendar.Christmas is a beautiful season in the Catholic Church, one that doesn't end on December 26, but extends as far as February!ref: https://lnkd.in/g4zaGCJC-----------------------------------------------------

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RAPTURE BEFORE THE TRIBULATION:The Rapture will happen “before” the great tribulation period. If you are a Born Again Christian you will never see the Antichrist. A lot of individuals have the Rapture and the second coming confused with each other, they are different. The Rapture happens to take the church out “before” the great tribulation, and at the end of the seven years the second coming of Christ. Born Again Christians Instead of looking for the antichrist, should be listing for the sound of the trumpet. Born Again Christians will “not” go through the great Tribulation, they are Raptured out before the tribulation. (1Corinthians 15:51-52) (1Thessalonians 4:16-17)God never change He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He delivered Noah and Lot before His wrath. The church is His bride, and He loves His bride, so why would He pour His wrath out upon His Bride during the great Tribulation? The church will “never” go through the great Tribulation. (Hebrews 13:8) (Rev 3:10)The tribulation isn’t for the church, but for the Jewish nation to show them that they crucified their messiah, in other words to open their eyes that the antichrist isn’t their messiah. They are blinded and can’t believe today that Jesus was their messiah, but God will opened their eyes during the great tribulation. (Romans 11:8)Revelation is a prophetic book of the last days. It shows everything that is shortly to come to pass. The church age is prier to Revelation chapter 4. After Revelation chapter 4 the church isn’t mentioned anymore and this is doing the great tribulation period. This shows that the Rapture has happened “before” the great tribulation. The church is never mentioned during the great tribulation period because it has been Raptured. The church has not been appointed to go thru the great Tribulation, but to be delivers from the wrath to come.(1Thessalonians 1:10) (1Thessalonians 5:9)The 70 week of Daniel shows that the great tribulation period is for the Jewish Nation and not for the Born Again Christians (His bride). (Rev 12:17) (Daniel 9:24) (Jeremiah 30:7)Why have we been given the end time signs to show us that the Rapture is near if the church is going through the great Tribulation Period? The church is given the end time signs so she will be ready and looking for the Rapture.(2Thessalonians 2:3) (2 Timothy 3:1-5)After the Rapture the Holy Spirit will let the Antichrist come upon the scene. The Holy Spirit is now keeping the Antichrist from coming upon the scene until the Rapture happens. The Born Again Christian will never see the Antichrist. The Rapture is next on God's calendar, not the Tribulation.(2Thessalonians 2:7)

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Luke 12:51-53 (NKJV) 51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."The dividing that the gospel of Christ brings is for both time and eternity. In this discourse Jesus gave a parable involving just and unjust servants that illustrated eternal separation (see the exposition of 12:41-48 in the previous chapter of this volume). The faithful steward represents those who are ready for Christ’s return; who are obedient to the gospel, believe in Jesus, confess Him as Lord, and are saved (Rom. 10:9). They will be rewarded with blessedness forever in heaven. The unfaithful stewards (whether defiant, distracted, or ignorant) represent unbelievers, who do not believe in Jesus, accept the gospel, or repent. They will be sentenced to varying degrees of eternal, conscious punishment in hell.But how they respond to Jesus will not only divide people in eternity, but also in time, as the Lord’s rhetorical question, Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division, reveals (cf. Matt. 10:34). It was reasonable for the Jewish people, based on the Old Testament teaching noted earlier in this chapter, to suppose that Messiah would bring peace. But Jesus told them that He came not to bring peace, but rather division. When there is no peace between sinners and God, there will be no peace between people, but rather strife and conflict.To illustrate His point Jesus chose society’s most fundamental unit, the family (Micah 7:6). He often used the phrase from now on to describe something that was beginning, and would continue to be that way in the future (e.g., Matt. 23:39; 26:29; Luke 5:10; 22:69; John 8:11; 13:19; 14:7). Jesus, who came as the Prince of Peace to reconcile sinners to God (2 Cor. 5:18-20), was and would continue to be, at the same time, the great divider (cf. John 7:43; 9:16; 10:19).In the Lord’s hypothetical illustration five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. (Six members of the household are named, but there are only five individuals, since the mother of the son and the mother-in-law of the daughter-in-law [her son’s wife] are the same person.) This illustration has played out innumerable times in real families since Jesus’ day. The offense of the gospel often causes those who reject and hate it to make outcasts of even family members who believe it. MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The - Luke 11-17.

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Hello Sanctified Family, Continuing the series on the interesting facts about the Gospels, here are some interesting facts about the Gospel of Luke.Authorship: The Gospel of Luke is traditionally attributed to Luke the Evangelist, who was a physician and a companion of the apostle Paul. He is also believed to be the author of the Acts of the Apostles, which continues the narrative of the early Christian Church.Comprehensive Account: Luke’s Gospel is known for its detailed and comprehensive account of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It includes unique stories and parables not found in the other Gospels.Gentile Perspective: Luke is the only Gospel writer who was not Jewish, and his Gospel reflects a particular concern for Gentile readers. He emphasizes Jesus’ universal message of salvation and his compassion for the marginalized and outcasts.Emphasis on Women and Social Outcasts: Luke highlights the role of women in Jesus’ ministry and includes stories of Jesus’ interactions with social outcasts such as tax collectors, sinners, and Samaritans. This emphasis on inclusivity and compassion aligns with Luke’s overarching themes of mercy and forgiveness.Orderly Account: Luke begins his Gospel by stating his intention to write an “orderly account” of the events surrounding Jesus’ life based on careful investigation and eyewitness testimony. His Gospel is characterized by its historical accuracy and attention to detail.Unique Birth Narratives: Luke provides the most detailed accounts of Jesus’ birth and infancy, including the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, and the Presentation in the Temple. These narratives highlight Jesus’ divine origins and his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.Parables of Mercy: Luke’s Gospel contains several parables that emphasize God’s mercy and forgiveness, such as the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, and the Lost Sheep. These parables reflect Luke’s concern for repentance, redemption, and the restoration of relationships.Overall, the Gospel of Luke offers a rich and inclusive portrayal of Jesus’ life, emphasising the message of salvation and his compassion for all people.

HOW TO BE A BLESSING TO YOUR CHURCH (14)(PERSONALITIES IN THE BODY)Function and ResponsibilitiesNow, observe Peter’s explanation further in 1st Peter 5.1st Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Vs 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Vs 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. Vs 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Vs 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.Recall that the word ‘elders’ in the above text was translated from the Greek word ‘presbuteros,' which implies senior in rank. It is in reference to leadership.Observe firstly, that Peter referred to himself as an ‘elder’ (in verse 1), then he also spoke concerning the ‘younger’ (elders) in Verse 5. Hence, Peter clearly was referring to the function of leadership in the local assembly.Secondly, observe that in context of Verses 2 and 3 respectively, Peter explained the Church of Christ (in the resurrection) as ‘the flock of God. Thus, Peter explained this function in Verse 2… Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight… Peter taught the function of ‘the elder’ in the local assembly as consisting of two things: - to feed (teaching) and spiritual oversight. The word ‘feed’ (Verse 16) was translated from the Greek word ‘poimano.' It implies to tend, to rule; to care for, to shepherd.Paul taught similarly in the book of Acts.Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.The Lord Jesus (in the resurrection) also did in John’s synoptic accountJohn 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. Vs 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Vs 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Notice Peter’s words further in Verses 21st Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but… http://dlvr.it/T1zFgD

First of all, none of the churches have a clue on what our salvation is.For example every single one of them talks about how if one do not believe their gospel etc. that you would die and go to hell.But this is nonsense. Every one is going to be made alive in us, but each man in his own order (The first or the second resurrection).Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 15:22-23, For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.23But every man in his own order (FIRST AND RESUURECTION): Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.As you can see in the above word of knowledge by our apostle Paul, everyone is going to be made alive in us. THUS, THE CHURCHES ARE ALL LYING.Everyone dies in Adam.Likewise, every lives forever in us.Romans 5:17-18For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.THE FREE GIFT CAME UPON ALL MEN AND JUSTIFIED THEM TO LIVE THE EVERLASTING LIFE.YOUR CHURCH IS LYING AGAINST US.Revelation 20:5-65But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.THE REST OF THE DEAD ARE GOING TO LIVE AGAIN AFTER MY 1000 YEAR IS OVER.YOUR CHURCH IS LYING.John 5:28-30Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.THE TIME IS COMING WHEN ALL THAT ARE IN THEIR GRAVES SHALL HEAR OUR VOICE AND SHALL COME FORTH...Your churches are all lying.

Thursday, March 7, 2024 Growing Up Spiritually “Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.”—1 Corinthians 14:20 You can’t be a kid again. But in one sense, you can because the Bible teaches that, as Christians, we should be childlike in our faith. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3 NLT).When I became a Christian, it was like a new world to me. I realized that I had so much to learn. I also realized that I really didn’t even know what I thought about so many issues in life, what really mattered, and what my priorities were.The apostle Paul urged the believers in Corinth, “Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind” (1 Corinthians 14:20 NLT).There are some areas of the Christian life in which we should be childlike, in which we should be simple. We don’t need to know all the intricacies of evil and the way this world works. We need to maintain our dependence on God and be childlike in that way.On the other hand, there are areas in which we need to mature and grow. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being spiritual babies when we’re new in the faith. But as the years pass, we need to become spiritually mature.When we begin as Christians, when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, when we are born again, we start out as spiritual infants. This is true of every person, regardless of age. Everyone starts out this way in the faith.Some people were raised in the church and have always been familiar with the Bible, with worship, and with prayer. But at some point, they realized their walk with God needed to be their own, so they made their own personal commitment to the Lord.Others came in cold from the world. I was one of those people. I had no background in the church. I had no understanding of the Bible. And I had never worshipped God before. I knew nothing about prayer. I knew relatively nothing about Jesus.When we’re new in the faith, it’s all so different. It’s a bit of a mystery. That’s why we need people to help us acclimate. We need to learn how to start growing up spiritually.I like the questions that new believers ask. I like the statements they make. But best of all, I like their zeal. They’re excited about what Christ has done for them.A church that does not have a constant flow of new believers coming in will be a church that is stagnating spiritually. New believers need more mature believers to help them get grounded. And mature believers need new believers to help remind them of what really matters in life.We need to remain childlike with our excitement about our faith, but we also need to mature and grow spiritually.

Why do Christians celebrate the death of Jesus?Christians celebrate the death of Jesus because it represents the ultimate act of love and justice from God. Sin, which separates us from God’s Kingdom, required a sacrifice to reconcile the sinner with God’s righteous standards. Through Adam and Eve’s rebellion in Genesis, we see the consequence of disobedience and the broken relationship it caused with God. Despite our attempts to conceal sin, God offers forgiveness through the shedding of innocent blood, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus’ sinless sacrifice appeases God’s wrath and grants forgiveness to those who believe in Him, showcasing both God’s love and justice. Rejecting Jesus means rejecting the only solution to appease God’s wrath, leading to the inevitable consequence of sin. However, through Jesus’ sacrifice, God provided a way for the sinner to escape this wrath, ensuring that His justice is upheld. Jesus’ death demonstrates God’s righteousness, as He punished sin while offering forgiveness to those who believe in Him, making it possible for sinners to be justified through faith in Jesus Christ.That is why we celebrate! For more details on Easter and other Spiritual topics click below.

As we consider the future final return of Christ, the question is: What is God waiting for? Think about it. Why hasn't Jesus come back yet? For nearly two thousand years the Church has eagerly awaited the final return of Jeus Christ. Yet for the same two thousand years, I believe Jesus Christ has been waiting for the Church. Many Christians have no idea what God is waiting for. Yet if we don't understand what He is waiting for, it is impossible for us to partner with Heaven in order to bring Jesus back to earth! This has resulted in an incredible amount of theological confusion regarding the return of the Lord. One of the most prevalent misconceptions is that Jesus could return at any moment. This teaching is present in so many Christian novels and low-budget endtimes films, yet it is not a sound doctrine of the Bible. When teachers lift verses out of their intended historical context, they can easily create a doctrine of Jeus "any moment" return. Yet, this is not taught anywhere in the New Testament. When a historical, contextual understanding of the New Testament is put into place, this modern any-moment-return doctrine crumbles. Why? It has no solid foundation. While many liberal theologians would say differently, John A.T. Robinson has written a masterpiece that correctly demonstrates that the entire New Testament was written before the AD destruction of Jerusalem. This context is important because it gives a foundation for interpreting the New Testament. With that in mind, we can understand that the backdrop to everything recorded in the New Testament was the impending doom that was about to fall upon the city of Jerusalem. A few examples:1. Why would the early disciples sell their property? Acts 4:32-37. They did this because they had insider information that the city was about to be destroyed. 2. What was Stephen accused of that led to his stoning? Acts 6:13-14?Stephen was declaring the impending destruction. 3. Why, instead of building large churches, did the early Church choose to meet in the temple courts and from house to house?They did this because they knew their city was about to be destroyed. If you knew destruction was coming, would you start building a large church facility? Of course not! Instead, you would logically meet in homes. 4. Why did James encourage his readers to take their plans lightly? He did this because he knew that at any moment the destruction of Jerusalem could begin.

QUESTIONWhat does it mean to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)?ANSWERGalatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The word burden here means “a weight of personal and eternal significance.” It can refer to a character flaw, a struggle, or a moral requirement. Some have wondered at the meaning of this verse as it compares to Galatians 6:5, which says, “Each one should bear his own load.” Are these verses contradictory? How can we bear someone else’s burdens if we are each supposed to carry our own loads?The Greek word translated “load” in Galatians 6:5 is phortion, which refers to an individual burden that is not transferable. We each have certain obligations for which we alone are responsible. For example, God has given each of us responsibilities for our families (1 Timothy 5:8), our churches (1 Corinthians 12:18), and our personal holiness (1 Peter 1:15–16). We cannot assume the responsibility for someone else’s behavior. We can, however, bear other burdens; we can come alongside a struggling brother or sister and help shoulder the weight of a trial or temptation that threatens to pull him under.We can illustrate the idea of bearing one another’s burdens with the picture of a man staggering beneath a heavy load of grain. He must somehow get this grain home to his family, but he is about to crumble beneath its weight. A brother sees his distress and rushes to his aid, lifting a part of the burden and thereby easing the weight of it. Although the supportive one does not assume the whole load, his help allows the struggling one to carry on to his destination.The church at Antioch is an example of believers bearing one another’s burdens. Acts 11:27–30 records that the church learned of a coming famine in Judea. Though they did not personally know the ones who would be affected by this difficulty, they took up collections to send to them by way of traveling apostles. The Antioch church did not assume responsibility for total provision, but their generosity lightened the load for those who would be suffering.We are each responsible before God for the gifts and resources He has entrusted to us (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). We cannot blame others, shift responsibility, or make excuses about why we were unfaithful with the assignments we’ve been given—we must bear our own loads. But there are also times when life threatens to overwhelm. A spouse dies. A child is injured. A job folds or a house burns down. As part of the family of God, we are to come to the aid of our brothers and sisters in need (Philippians 2:3–4). When a load suddenly becomes too heavy for one person, we are to bear one another’s burdens. The added strength and encouragement of others is often the difference between pressing on and giving up.(More)https://lnkd.in/gpUHBqiK